clark



(No Model.)

FENCE MACHINE.

Paten ted Mar. 17, 1891.

llni: E

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

JOHN H. BURKI-IOLDER AND JESSEL. CLARK, OF ASHLAND, OHIO; SAID BURKHOLDER ASSIGNOR TO DAVID F. SHEARER.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 448,601, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed October 18, 1890- Serial No. 368,569. [No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. BUR-KHOLDER and JESSE L. CLARK, citizens of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence- Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to machines for wiring pales or pickets such as are used in the manufacture of picket fence.

i The novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of the twisting-machine, showing the general construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional top view of one of the twisters and section of the frame, taken in line .90 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical side elevation of tension device. Fig. 5 is a front view of portion of same. Fig. 6 is a sectional top view of tension,taken in line 0000, Fig. 4.

The twisting-machine A is composed of an upright frame of a loop form, or may be constructed of two bars bolted together at the top and placed a sufficient distance apart to form a parallel slot or opening. This frame is mounted upon a frame which is constructed with two side rails a b, the rails a and I) being of equal length, and between these are journaled the wheel 0. This frame is pivotally connected to the upright frame A, as shown at 0, so that the frame can be tilted in either direction to conform to the incline of the ground.

D indicates a brace-rod, the lower end having a pivot movement upon the bolt d, forming the journal for the wheel 0. The upper end of said brace is pivoted to the side of the sliding block E. The said block is constructed of plates c 6, one on each side of the upright frame, and clamped rigidly to the frame by the bolt f. Releasing the said bolt allows the block to slide up or down, allowing the proper with V-shaped teeth 25.

adjustment of the twisting'machix'ie to the position desired to conform to the surface 'of the ground. By this mechanism it will be seen that the upright frame may be always held in a vertical position.

F indicates one of the twister-heads. In the drawings three are shown: 1 2 3. More the cross-bar r, formed within the sprocketwheel I. The rim H, forming the projection upon the face, is constructed upon its edge This device is for the purpose of regulating the pulleys to conform to the line of wires. Should the twister-heads be changed from the position shown, the sprocket-wheels would be rotated by being in mesh with the sprocket-chain L and would change the position of the sheave-pulleys, so that the opening between the wires would not line to admit the picket. By releasing the not 1: the two parts I andJ can be separated and the pulleys an adjusted to line one with the other. By tightening the nut :m the two parts I and J are drawn together, clamping them rigidly in position, but allowing the headto rotate in the rim H. The clampingplate M is provided with the slots 20 011 it-sinnor face to receive the edge of the upright frame A. The twister-head is secured rigidly to the frame A by the plate ill and bolt N. By releasing the nut O the twister-head can be adjusted to any position upon the frame A. P indicates a pivoted bale, to which the loop-arm Q is secured. The said arm is designed .to hold the wires parallel, the wires being passed through the loop formed in the said arm during the operation of building 2 eeaeol the picket-fence. This mechanism is fully illustrated in the enlarged sectional views 1, 2, and 3. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

R indicates a sprocket and bevel-gear, which is pivoted to the edge of the frame A and in line with the sproeket-whcels Lforming part of the twister-heads l, 2, and (Shown in Fig. 1.)

S is a bevel-pinion which rotates upon the stud X, carried by the clamping-plate T. The pinion meshes into the teeth formed in the bevel-gear It. The said pinion is provided with the crank-handle U. The said bevel and sprocket wheels are designed to receive motion from the pinion, imparting motion to the endless sprocket-chain L, said chain imparting motion to the twister-heads.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the tension, which is constructed of the parts A and A the said parts having grooves ll in their face edges, in which are fitted the blocks 0, which are provided with tongues on their inner faces to fit in the grooves formed in the edges of the parts A. The faces of said blocks are constructed to receive the journal formed in the center of the tension-roller l). The said block and roller are held in position by the eyebolt E, the eye inclosing the journal of the roller, the bolt passingthrough the block 0, then between the parts A and A and through the plate l 3y tightening the nut G upon the eyebolt E clamping the roller 1), any tension required may be secured. ll indicates the wire-clamp, which is composed of the yoke-shaped casting 1, eyebolt J, and hook-headed bolts L. The strand-wires are clamped rigidly to the casting II by the bolts L. The tension-wire is wound on the spools 31, forming part of the tension-roller. The said wire is attached to the wire-clamp by passing it through the eye formedin the bolts J. As the wires are taken up by twisting between the pickets, the roller D rotates, unwinding the tension-wires from the spools M, giving all the slack required by the strand-wires when the machine is in operation.

1 indicate stop-blocks, which are secured to the sprocket-chain, and are for the purpose of making all the twists between the pickets uniform and stopping the machine, so that arranged in the grooves of the tension-frame,

the spools secured to said blocks, and the wire-clamps connected to said spools, all arranged and adapted to operate for the purpose stated.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of the loop-shaped twister-frame, the twisters secured to and adjustable on said frame, said twisters consisting of the plate having the rim and the toothed disks, the mechanism for operating the twisters, the tension-frame or upright having the grooves or channels in one face thereof, the blocks having tongues fitting in said grooves, the spools carried by said blocks, and the wire-clamps, all arranged, whereby the fence-wires may be arranged different distances apart.

In a fencemachine, the combination of a twister-frame, twisters secured to and ad justable on said frame, said twisters consisting of an attaching-plate havingarim, a disk having sprocket teeth on the periphery and teeth on the inner face, a disk having teeth on the inner face and guide-pulleys on the outer face, a sprocket-chain for operating said twisters, a tension-framehaving grooves in one face thereof, blocks having tongues fitting in said grooves, spools carried by said blocks, clamping-rods for securing the blocks in the desired position, and wirc'clamps connected to the spools, all arranged and adapted to operate as described.

In testimony whereof we affix on r signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. BURKIIOLDER. JESSE L. CLARK.

X it nesses:

Jas. W. Martins,

J. t. Snow. 

